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2018 Convoy for Kids Sydney

Approximately 800 trucks participated in this year’s Sydney Convoy for Kids, raising money for Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service

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It was an early start for the Convoy for Kids participants on Sunday, October 21, but grey skies didn’t deter truck owners and drivers who arrived in the western Sydney suburb of Huntingwood as early as 5am.

The Sydney Convoy for Kids raises money for NETS (Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service) which is basically a mobile intensive care for kids.

Ben Richardson and Jodie Ferris, who run Benae Haulage, were among the early birds who arrived at Huntingwood. The pair rolled up in Ben’s Kenworth Big Cab K108 which he bought about four months ago. Ben says he’s has expanded his fleet to two trucks with the very recent purchase of a Freightliner Columbia.

A little further up the road was Josh Day from MMM Logistics with his two kids Axel and Liana. Josh brought his Freightliner Argosy with a C15 Cat pushing out 550hp.

The trucks kept rolling in to join the convoy; some of them keeping an eye on the weather. The organisers were happy to have late comers register on the day as they were set up in Huntingwood Drive to take late registrations complete with an early morning sausage sizzle.

One driver who arrived a little later was Ashlee Saggs. Ashlee has a bit of history with the convoy, his father took him as a child. Ashlee says he’s always loved heavy vehicles and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his dad and join the convoy in his own truck.

The convoy left Huntingwood at around 8am, travelling along the Great Western Highway, Wallgrove Road, M4 Freeway and taking the Hill Road exit to Homebush Bay Drive and onto Sydney Olympic Park.

The first trucks arrived at the venue shortly before 9am with a huge contingent from Aussie Skips near the front of the convoy, an awesome sight with their bright yellow trucks spotted easily from a distance. Aussie Skips were a major sponsor of the day.

Azzurri Concrete was there as almost one big family. Don D’Angola one of the company’s partners, explained that the business has very strong family values.

“The call went out to see who would like to be a part of the convoy but I had more employees than trucks wanting to be a part of the event,” Don says.

This was the first time Azzurri Concrete has been part of the convoy but he says it definitely won’t be the last.

For more on the 2018 Convoy for Kids Sydney, see the November edition of Owner//Driver, available from November 12.

Video: David McKenzie

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